Dig In Campaign supporting NICA league trails in three states

Dig In Campaign supporting NICA league trails in three states

By:Katherine Fuller

Posted:November 14, 2017

IMBA is committed to accelerating the pace of new trail builds and making mountain biking more accessible than ever. To help with that, IMBA launched its 2017 Dig In Campaign, which is putting dollars directly toward 68 active, approved mountain bike projects in 31 states. Collectively, these IMBA chapter projects represent 500 miles of new trails, the maintenance/improvement of another 140 miles of trails, and 10 new bike parks/pumptracks.

Dig In is also supporting three IMBA chapter projects that are specifically intended to serve high school mountain bike racing leagues that are part of NICA (National Interscholastic Cycling Association). In Georgia, Minnesota and Utah, the growth in numbers of enthusiastic student athletes is necessitating more great places to ride. To us, that seems like nothing but awesome news! #diginwithIMBA!

In Cobb County, GA, SORBA West Georgia is building on a positive, productive, 6-plus year relationship with the Cobb County land manager. The chapter is planning to build a 7- to 8-mile long trail on land behind Frey Elementary and Durham Middle School that will maximize flow and be youth-friendly to complement the exploding popularity of high school mountain bike racing in the area. SORBA West Georgia is raising funds to hire a professional trail designer for the project, which will ultimately be part of the 20-plus mile Allatoona Creek Mountain Bike Trail System.

In Mankato, MN, Mankato Area Mountain Bikers (MAMB) plans to expand the Mount Kato Ski Area's mountain bike amenities. The plan includes a professional evaluation of the property and its existing trail system to maximize the potential of the land while also preserving and renovating the existing trail system to more sustainable standards. Plans by Mount Kato to expand its mountain bike trails have languished over time, but the growth of Minnesota’s NICA League, the local IMBA chapter and the Minnesota mountain biking scene in general has provided new incentives to make the ski area into the resource MAMB knows it can be for local and visiting riders.

Mount Kato has been proud the host of the Minnesota NICA’s season-ending championship race the past four years. This project would go a long way to helping to cement Mankato’s place in the Minnesota NICA race series. Dig In funds will be applied to hiring a professional trail contractor to appraise the property and design a trail system to more fully utilize the property’s assets. The product of that evaluation will help direct MAMB’s future efforts on Mount Kato.

In Cedar City, UT, Dixie Mountain Bike Trails Association (DMBTA) is working to build the Iron Giant Trail, a beginner downhill trail that will enhance a new trail system. The trail will also support the local NICA high school mountain bike racing team, which uses that system for practice and training. This trail will provide a progressive step in riding capability for downhill beginners and provide another option for riders in the current trail system. It will also help establish a complete directional trail system. DMBTA’s current plan is to work with the Bureau of Land Management and IMBA Trail Solutions to machine-build the trail and will follow with volunteers doing finish work and maintenance.

IMBA is proud to continue its partnership with NICA via the Teen Trail Corps—a way for NICA participants to learn about and be rewarded for trail stewardship and giving back to the mountain biking community.

IMBA is also proud to be promoting and helping to raise funds for these and all 68 IMBA chapter trail projects via Dig In. You can give directly to one of these NICA projects or find the one nearest you and kick in a few bucks to buy yourself new and/or improved trails or a bike park. Now through December 31, IMBA is raising funds from the bicycle industry to support each one of these projects, as well.

Thank you!

About the author

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Katherine is IMBA's director of marketing & communications and resident singlespeeder. She previously worked for IMBA from 2010-15 and returned in 2017, after completing a master's degree in PR and marketing, to take on her current role.

Katherine is IMBA's director of marketing &amp; communications and resident singlespeeder. She previously worked for IMBA from 2010-15 and returned in 2017, after completing a master's degree in PR and marketing, to take on her current role.
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